Texas
Wildbuds

Phacelia congesta

(Blue Curls)

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Phacelia congesta, Lake Whitney State Park, Hill Co. 8029

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Phacelia congesta, Pedernales Falls State Park, Blanco Co. 2738

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Phacelia congesta, McKinney Roughs Natural Area, Bastrop Co. 3613

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Phacelia congesta, McKinney Roughs Natural Area, Bastrop Co. 3613

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Phacelia congesta, Lake Whitney State Park, Hill Co. 8017

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Phacelia congesta, Reimer’s Ranch Park, Travis Co. 9184

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Phacelia congesta, McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1570

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Phacelia congesta, Lake Whitney State Park, Hill Co. 8073

Scientific Name Phacelia congesta USDA PLANTS Symbol PHCO2
Common Name Blue Curls, Blue-curls ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 31473
Family Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) SEINet
Reference		 Click Here
Description Habitat: Sandy, gravelly or rocky soils; found often in shady areas; widespread throughout Texas.
Plant: Leafy erect or ascending annual or biennial, stems 8 inches to 3 feet or more tall with densely hairy/sticky foliage; often growing in colonies.
Leaves: Variable; mostly coarsely once or twice pinnately-divided or pinnatifid, 2-3/8 to 5-1/2 inches long and 1 to 1-5/8 inches wide overall, with 3 to 7 broad lobes or divisions, each lobe coarsely toothed and soft; upper leaves on petioles.
Inflorescence: Many small bell-shaped blossoms grouped together in coiled (scorpioid) clusters, each corolla less than 1/2-inch across with 5 overlapping blue to purplish lobes that are entire (not crenulate or dentate); protruding stamens with yellow anthers.
Bloom Period: March to June.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon and SEINet
Note: Experts seem to agree that Phacelia species are difficult to differentiate. Foliage is usually not determinant, blossoms and seed being more reliable. These IDs should be considered in that light. 		BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key		 Texas Status:
Native
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Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024